Charges laid after debris falls from towers

High winds blow a piece of plywood around the Ovation condominium tower on Oct. 6. ((Submitted by David McColl))

Charges have been laid against several companies after investigations into debris falling from construction projects during high winds.

The cases are separate but happened within a few weeks of each other last fall. On Friday, city officials announced charges have been laid under the Alberta Building Code.

The first incident happened on Sept. 26. A piece of scaffolding flew off a tower under construction at the Penn West Plaza on Ninth Avenue S.W. and hit a parkade ramp. No one was hurt, but the city issued a stop-work notice.

On Oct. 6, three two-by-fours and a large sheet of plywood were blown off the Ovation tower on Spruce Place S.W. during a windstorm.

Charged in that incident are Intergulf-Cidex Development (VIII) Corp. and Condominium Corporation No. 0512667.

In both cases, the charges are for "causing, allowing or maintaining an unsafe condition, namely the storage, placement, installation, or disposal of materials at the said building in such a manner that could endanger the life, limb, or health of any person who was expected to be about said building."

If found guilty, fines of up to $15,000 could be issued for the first offence or up to $30,000 for repeat offences.

Construction sites in Calgary have been watched closely following two deaths in 2009.

Three-year-old Michelle Krsek was killed when she was hit by a piece of corrugated metal that blew off an 18-storey building under construction at 112 Ninth Ave. S.W.

In May, a worker died at the Penn West Plaza building site. Lance James Orr, 27, was crushed by 1,800 kilograms of building materials that slipped out of a crane sling.